Frictionless electromagnetic braking system

Abstract

A frictionless electromagnetic braking system utilizes linear alternators which are controlled by a power electronics converter interface to capture the car's kinetic energy and generate braking force on the wheel. The alternators are engaged by driver or operator input.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a brake disc adapted about an axle of a vehicle and having a first side and a second side; 
 a first induction generator adapted about the first side of the brake disc in a non-contact manner; 
 a second induction generator adapted about the second side of the brake disc in a non-contact manner; and 
 wherein responsive to an initial excitation current, the first induction generator and the second induction generator are to produce a self-excitation current using kinetic energy of the vehicle to generate a frictionless braking force on the brake disc, wherein the first and second induction generators operate at a slip frequency to generate loss in the first and second induction generators. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second induction generators comprise multi-phase alternators. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second induction generators capture the kinetic energy of the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is to control an output power to zero, and wherein generated power is consumed by loss in the brake disc and the first and second induction generators. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first inverter coupled to the first induction generator; 
 a second inverter coupled to the second induction generator; and 
 a wheel controller to receive a control signal from a master controller and to send a first control signal to control the first inverter and a second control signal to control the second inverter. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus comprises a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
 the master controller; and 
 a plurality of brake housings, each of the plurality of brake housings including a plurality of induction generators, at least one inverter, and a wheel controller coupled to the master controller. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one inverter coupled to the first induction generator and the second induction generator, wherein the first induction generator comprises a first stator having a first plurality of coils and the second induction generator comprises a second stator having a second plurality of coils, the brake disc comprising a rotor for the first stator and the second stator; and 
 a wheel controller to receive a control signal from a master controller and to send a second control signal to control the at least one inverter. 
 
     
     
       8. A frictionless electromagnetic braking system for a wheel of a vehicle or a moving device comprising:
 a brake disc having two sides; 
 a first linear alternator, a primary of the first linear alternator separated by a first air gap of a predetermined space from one side of the brake disc, the primary of the first linear alternator comprising a first core and a first plurality of coils adapted about the first core; 
 a second linear alternator, a primary of the second linear alternator separated by a second air gap of a predetermined space from a second side of the brake disc, the primary of the second linear alternator comprising a second core and a second plurality of coils adapted about the second core; 
 wherein, 
 the first and second linear alternators are engaged by an external input, and 
 the first and second linear alternators are controlled by a power electronics interface to generate a frictionless braking force on the brake disc and on the wheel, wherein the first and second linear alternators act as inductors that operate at a slip frequency to generate loss in the first and second linear alternators. 
 
     
     
       9. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second linear alternators comprise linear induction alternators. 
     
     
       10. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the first air gap and the second air gap are of the same predetermined space. 
     
     
       11. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the external input is generated by at least one of a driver of the vehicle or moving device or an automatic braking system of the vehicle or moving device. 
     
     
       12. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the brake disc acts as a secondary for the first and second linear alternators. 
     
     
       13. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8  wherein the external input comprises an initial excitation current, and wherein the first and second linear alternators are to produce a self-excitation current using kinetic energy of the vehicle or moving device to generate the frictionless braking force. 
     
     
       14. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second linear alternators comprise multi-phase alternators. 
     
     
       15. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second linear alternators capture kinetic energy of the vehicle or moving device. 
     
     
       16. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , wherein the power electronics interface is to control an output power of the frictionless electromagnetic braking system to zero, and wherein generated power is consumed by loss in the brake disc and the first and second linear alternators. 
     
     
       17. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more inverters that control the first and second linear alternators, wherein the one or more inverters control output power of the first and second linear alternators, and wherein the one or more inverters supply excitation currents for the first and second linear alternators. 
     
     
       18. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more inverters further comprise a battery or a braking resistor for receiving output power of the first and second linear alternators. 
     
     
       19. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more wheel controllers and a master brake controller, wherein the one or more wheel controllers control the one or more inverters, wherein the master brake controller controls the one or more wheel controllers, and wherein the master brake controller receives the external input. 
     
     
       20. The frictionless electromagnetic braking system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more wheel controllers and a master brake controller, wherein the one or more wheel controllers control the linear alternators, wherein the master brake controller controls the wheel controllers, and wherein the master brake controller receives the external input.